MEDFORD, Ore. — On Wednesday, a Washington man who was caught in Southern Oregon transporting multiple drugs, including fentanyl, was sentenced to federal prison, according to U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Daniel Martin Ponce-Gonzalez, 39, who officials believe lives in Yakima, Wash., was sentenced to 60 months with five years of probation.
Officials said Ponce-Gonzalez was found with over 55 pounds of methamphetamine and more than a thousand fentanyl pills.
According to court documents, on June 19, 2021, Ponce-Gonzalez was the driver of a black sedan traveling north on U.S. Route 97 in Klamath County and was stopped by police. During the traffic stop, he provided officers with a false name and fake identification documents.
Officials said that officers noticed patterns of drug trafficking and gain consent from Ponce-Gonzalez and a passenger to search the car. During the search, officers found a hidden compartment near the car's trunk, stashing more than 55 pounds of meth and about two pounds each of fentanyl pills and cocaine. Upon finding that, officers arrested both Ponce-Gonzalez and his passenger.
On Aug. 5, 2021, Ponce-Gonzalez was charged due to a criminal complaint with conspiracy and possession of meth. In March 2022, he was formally charged on one count of possessing with intent to distribute meth by a federal grand jury in Medford, according to U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Oregon State Police and Homeland Security Investigations worked in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
